The bioplastics industry frequently misrepresents oxo-biodegradable technology as ‘oxo-degradable’, implying that they only fragment rather than biodegrade, because they do not meet the composting standards, ASTM D6400 and EN13432 (which they use as surrogate standards for biodegradation). Conveniently omitted is the fact that these composting standards are only relevant to industrial composting conditions, with controlled temperature, oxygen and humidity conditions. (Indeed, outside of industrial composting conditions, compostable plastics also do not meet the criteria for biodegradation.)
Nevertheless, TDPA™ is supported by independent, academic scientific research demonstrating that the degradation products of oxo-biodegradable plastic are bio-assimilated by microorganisms; this research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Furthermore, a 2017 report commissioned by the ECHA acknowledged that “the debate … should move forward from the assertion that [oxo-biodegradable] plastics merely fragment”.
